News-Record.com

The North Carolina Piedmont Triad's top go-to source for News
A service of the News & Record, Greensboro, North Carolina

Home

The Editor's Log

« The age of skepticism, the era of gullibility and speed | Main | Sign up for mobile news alerts »

A big fish story

bassmaster.jpg


This photo, which was the centerpiece of the front page of our Sunday Sports section, shows that wonderful celebration that every sportsman wants to experience. It's also an example of patience and dumb luck on the part of our photographer, Jerry Wolford. (Were I he talking to my boss, I would have called the photo the result of skill and hard work, but Jerry called it dumb luck himself.)

Jerry had spent the entire day Saturday at the Bassmaster American watching lines cast but not much of anything caught. He was ready to call it quits when he heard a clatter roar from the crowd at a creek channel about 50 yards away. He turned, saw Fred Roumbanis pulling a taut line and imitated Justin Gatlin. (A pale imitation, but he sprinted nonetheless.)

Jerry dived onto the ground to get the best position and started shooting. (I'm picturing the James Bond shooting the villains while prone and airborne.) The moment he pressed the shutter release, Roumbanis pulled the day's biggest bass out of the water. More than six pounds. (Correction: his total catch was 14 pounds, 10 ounces.) And Jerry got the shot of the day.

Like a good boss, I asked him why he had wasted the entire day when he got the shot we needed in five minutes.

** I wasn't taking notes during this telling and I've asked Jerry to edit/polish this entry when he gets back in so I may have some updating to do.

Jerry adds: "The other thing to note is the fish was hooked in a way, right on the mouth, that made it likely to come off the hook. You can almost see the fear in the guys face as he was on the boat deck trying to land the thing.

"In a moment like this, when a fisherman exhibits this kind of excitement and exhileration, you know fishing is a sport and not just a way to spend the college fund on a boat. One of the purist sports photos I have ever made. I always say I would rather be lucky than good!"

Due to recent automated spamming attacks on our blogs, we are temporarily requiring commenters to authenticate themselves via TypeKey® before posting comments to any News & Record blog in order to prevent denials of service. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience.

Post a comment

Users who post comments to this blog tacitly agree to observe the News & Record Online Service Terms of Use and Content Submission Agreement. Comments which do not adhere to the terms of this agreement may be removed and the submitter may be banned from further participation. Please use the feedback form at the bottom of any page to report abuse of this feature.

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Search

Search

Channels
Font Size
Tools
Question, Comment or Suggestion? Please contact us.

News & Record and NRinteractive

200 E. Market Street, Greensboro, NC 27401 (336) 373-7000 (800) 553-6880
1813 N. Main Street, High Point, NC 27262 (336) 883-4422
203 E. Harris Place, Eden, NC 27288 (336) 627-1781
4213 S. Church Street, Burlington, NC 27215 (336) 449-7064

Copyright (C) 2008 News & Record and Landmark Communications, Inc.